Showing results for aggravates.

aggravates

VERB

annoy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bother irritate provoke

STRONG

bug bum dog exasperate gall get grate hack irk nag needle nettle peeve pester pique tease vex

WEAK

be at be on the back of drive up the wall get on one's nerves get to give a hard time pick on wig

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid delight help please

STRONG

calm make happy soothe

WEAK

alleviate appease gladden improve mollify relieve soften

VERB

cause to become worse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

complicate deepen enhance exacerbate exaggerate heighten inflame intensify magnify worsen

STRONG

increase mount rise rouse

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm decrease lower minimize play down reduce soothe weaken

STRONG

decline drop fall slump

WEAK

alleviate appease gladden help improve make happy mollify relieve soften

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Turning our heads toward the future aggravates the whiplash induced by rapid change.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

Padgett prays daily to help him manage the pain of his third bout of cancer and the multiple herniated disks that sleeping on the ground aggravates.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

Not only is he receiving extra treatment, but he also has been able to avoid any running, something that aggravates his injury most.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2024

Christel Hughes, 45, said the heating assistance allows her to run her oil-fired furnace instead of relying on a woodstove that aggravates her breathing problems that require her to use oxygen.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2023

It wouldn't hurt if he weren't right—if I hadn't known somewhere that my weakness aggravates him.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan